Professor Dharma Wijewickreme has been recognized with the 2021 G. Geoffrey Meyerhof Award by the Canadian Geotechnical Society (CGS) for his “outstanding contributions to soil mechanics and foundation engineering.”
Dr. Wijewickreme has built a distinguished research track record in earthquake and pipeline engineering since joining UBC in 2001. He is internationally known for his research work on the earthquake response of silty soils and performance of buried pipelines subject to ground movement hazards.
During his previous 11-year tenure in industry practice as a geotechnical engineer, he contributed extensively to the seismic design and retrofit of several major highway bridges, pipeline systems, and large industrial plants.
In 2015, Dr. Wijewickreme established the UBC Pipeline Integrity Institute (PII), with the vision to champion world-leading pipeline innovation and practices through advanced education, training, and applied research.
“I am honoured and humbled to receive this award; being able to work with, mentor, and train brilliant graduate students and see them become highly qualified professionals and contribute to Canada and the world, is massively rewarding,” said Dr. Wijewickreme.
Dr. Wijewickreme’s current research focuses on systematically understanding the complex effects of particulate structure on how soils behave during earthquakes.
Dr. Wijewickreme served as the President of the Canadian Geotechnical Society for the two year period 2017-2018. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, Canadian Society for Civil Engineering, and Engineering Institute of Canada. In 2013, Dr. Wijewickreme became the recipient of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering Horst Leipholz Medal for outstanding contributions to Engineering Mechanics and Practice in Canada.